A report on approach and landing loss-of-control accidents has emerged from a work group co-chaired by the FAA and AOPA, recommending that GA "embrace to the fullest extent" angle-of-attack (AOA)
systems and work to improve pilot decision making. The work group advises the General Aviation Joint Steering Committee. Its focus was derived from an FAA overview that found loss of control
accounted for 40.2 percent of fatal general aviation accidents that took place from 2001 to 2010. Particular areas of concern included flying after a period of inactivity and transition training, as
well as pilot decision-making.

Pilot decision-making remains a focus of safety concerns in general, as 85 percent of fatal accidents can be traced to pilot actions, according to AOPA. The report notes that controlled flight into
terrain accidents have decreased and it attributes that improvement to new in-cockpit technology like terrain-aware GPS units. AOA systems, says the report, offer pilots awareness of their margin over
stall and account for weight and acceleration differences, by design. The report notes that AOA systems offer substantial safety benefits but notes that cost and regulations may produce barriers for
the pilots of light aircraft. The FAA "will need to identify the right level of certification," it says. It notes that the FAA should address these issues "with streamlined processes" for certifying
and installing new technology that offers "a high probability of safety benefits" balanced against "low safety risk." Find the full report, here (PDF).

On Tuesday, the FAA issued a safety notice noting that since 149 contract towers will close starting this Sunday, April 7, it is important for pilots "to increase our awareness of proper operating
practices and procedures at airports without an operating control tower." The FAA suggested that pilots should always check Notams prior to flight, communicate, stay alert, and continually scan
for traffic. Traffic may include jets and helicopters that are not accustomed to "standard traffic patterns" at your airport, the FAA said. You also may be sharing the pattern with non-radio-equipped
aircraft or ultralights. Also, towered airports may see an increase in activity, particularly students who are required to practice certain procedures at a field with a tower. This will necessitate
"diligent planning" on the part of training providers, instructors, and students, the FAA said.

The FAA also suggested that pilots spend some time with an instructor improving their knowledge and skills for non-towered-airport operations. Online resources that provide advisory information for
operations at airports without an operating control tower include the FAA Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) (PDF); Advisory Circular 90-66A (PDF); Basic Right of Way Rules (CFR 91.113); and Traffic Flow Rules at Non-Towered Airports (CFR 91.126 and CFR 91.127).

With 149 control towers set to close, traffic pattern manners are about to be put to the test. And it shouldn't be too hard for us to make this work. A little courtesy, a little respect, and good
airmanship oughta do it. And readers phone in a few suggestions to the AVweb Insider blog.

A French newspaper celebrated April Fool's Day with a story about a plan to deliver its papers by drone, and the idea was also adopted by The Daily Sentinel, in Colorado. The story was picked up and repeated across the blogosphere, but late in the day on Monday, NBC News confirmed that the post was a prank. "The tiny drones
don't seem to have room to carry more than just one newspaper," wrote Nidhi Subbaraman, of NBC. "How efficient could that possibly be, using a flying lawn mower to deliver one newspaper at a time?"
But the story is not too far from the truth -- in the real news on Monday, the FAA invited the public to comment on its now-in-development UAV policy, as the agency prepares to choose six test sites
for UAV integration later this year.

The FAA is moving ahead to find ways to integrate UAVs into the National Airspace System while maintaining safety, but the online public engagement session scheduled for Wednesday, April 3, from
noon to 2 p.m. Eastern Time, will focus not on safety but on the agency's proposed privacy policy. The FAA will provide a brief overview of the UAS test-site program and proposed privacy policy and
then take comments from participants. Each participant will have three minutes for comments. The FAA encourages the public to provide comments to the docket. The FAA will listen and record all
comments, but will not answer any questions during the session. Details on how to register and participate, and information on the proposed UAS test-site privacy policy, is available online.

New Small Size for Your Aircraft  Protect You and YourPassengers with an Ultra-Low-Level Carbon Monoxide Detector
You asked for a smaller unit  now you have it. The CO Experts 2014 detects CO down to 1 ppm in real time. It begins alerting you at 10 ppm while other detectors will not until 35
ppm. The new compact size is perfect for the cockpit or flight bag!

A test program in Alaska to integrate the consumer tracking devices Spot and Spidertracks with FAA search-and-rescue has been successful, officials said last week. The Enhanced Special Reporting
Service was tested for two years and now has been made an official option for all pilots flying VFR in Alaska. The technology could be a lifesaver in Alaska's remote terrain. "For example," FAA
spokesman Allen Kenitzer told the Alaska Dispatch, "if a
pilot leaves Anchorage for Nome in a Cessna 172, it's about a four-and-a-half-hour flight. Typically, the search would begin for the overdue pilot 30 minutes after they were to have arrived. With this
technology, the search would begin when the plane stops moving and will more closely pinpoint the aircraft's location." The program is available only for VFR flights within Alaska, but it may be
expanded in the future, the FAA said.

Pilots must register their device with Flight Service and file a flight plan, and they must program the devices to alert the FAA in case of an emergency. The use of ESRS does not eliminate the need
to have an emergency locator transmitter on board an aircraft, the FAA said. If maintenance failures or other system problems prevent alert messages from being transmitted to FSS, search-and-rescue
for overdue aircraft will be based on the VFR Flight Plan. More information can be found at the FAA FAQ (PDF) and the project website. AOPA and the Alaska Airmen's Association
worked closely with the FAA on the test program.

Evektor flew an electric-powered light sport aircraft for the first time last week, the company has announced. The airplane made two short flights from Kunovice Airport in the Czech Republic, and
was powered by its electric motor for about 30 minutes. "I am glad that we are among the first companies in the world who have managed to realize the idea of electric-motor-powered sport aircraft on
the level of a machine heading toward the serial production," said Martin Drsticka, project manager. "I am convinced that the range of potential of electric-driven sport aircraft is very wide." The
electric airplane is a derivative of the SportStar RTC two-seat LSA, with a new trapezoidal wing with an extended span. The airplane will be on display at Aero Friedrichshafen in Germany, coming up
April 24 to 27.

The EPOS (Electric POwered Small aircraft) is powered by a 50-kW Rotex RE X90-7 motor. Flight tests are continuing, the company said. The objective is to develop an aircraft that can be used for
personal flying and also by flight schools for initial pilot training.

Tecnam produces aircraft ranging from light sport to certified twins, is responsible for more than 3,500 aircraft in the world, today, and has now added a single-seat aerobatic low-wing LSA, the
Snap, to its offerings. Snap was previously available from Dallair, which has experience building sub-assemblies for Tecnam. And the Snap's designer, Fabio Russo, is currently Tecnam's head of
research and development. Tecnam will build the plane in Italy. SportairUSA, which has been the distributor for the Snap, will continue in that role.

The Snap flies behind a Rotax modified by EPApower to put out 130 hp with electronic fuel injection, inverted oil, an auxiliary alternator and four-into-one exhaust. The engine has been fully
balanced and polished, and burns 5 gallons of premium auto fuel per hour. The aircraft carries no more than 10 gallons, has a maximum takeoff weight of less than 950 pounds and is stressed for plus or
minus six G's. Tecnam says it "will be certifiable as production light sport (S-LSA), experimental light sport (E-LSA), or experimental-exhibition (EE)." Pricing when it was introduced at EAA
AirVenture Oshkosh 2011 was expected to be near $150,000. More details are available here.

Your FBO's Insurance Protects Them, Not You
Most insurance carried by the FBO or aircraft owner protects their interests, not the renter's. That's why we created Avemco® Non-Owned Insurance. It
could save you thousands in damages to a rental aircraft and thousands more in injury liability lawsuits and legal fees!

There were more business jet accidents in 2012 than the previous year and American operators were particularly hard hit. Business Jet Investor quotes an annual study by Robert E. Breiling Associates as putting the world-wide total of business jet accidents in 2012 at 28, including seven fatal accidents. That's up from 25 total
accidents with four involving fatalities in 2011.

Of the seven fatal accidents in 2012, five involved U.S.-registered aircraft, where there were no U.S. planes involved in fatalities the previous year. Two fatal accidents happened in the U.S.
while the other U.S. aircraft crashed in Mexico, the Congo and France. The total number of fatalities was also up in 2012. Business jet accidents killed 26 people in 2012 compared to 14 in
2011.

Embraer has delivered the first Phenom 300 assembled in the U.S. to an undisclosed customer. The aircraft was put together at Embraer's plant in Melbourne, Fla., and will be used in the U.S. "This
is a major milestone for Embraer Executive Jets and proves the maturity of our assembly facilities,"' said Phil Krull, who runs the Melbourne facility. 'We have quickened the manufacturing pace and
will be able to accommodate a more demanding schedule." Embraer opened the Melbourne facility two
years ago and has been producing Phenom 100s since the middle of 2011.

The first 300 was delivered with a few hours on it. Before it went to the customer it set some records for transcontinental flights for light jets on a flight from Melbourne to El Paso and on to
Long Beach. It will be used as a demonstrator for an unspecified period of time. The U.S. plant will feed a ready market, according to VP of Sales Bob Knebel. "We have found the Phenom 300 to be
particularly well received by owner-operators, corporate flight departments and leading fractional providers," he said.

Peter Drucker Says,"The Best Way to Predict the Future Is to Create It"
It's easy for your company to be more proactive, flexible, and entrepreneurial with AVweb's cost-effective marketing programs. Discover the benefits of instant response, quick copy
changes, monthly tracking reports, and interactive programs. To find out how simple it is to reach 255,000 qualified pilots, owners, and decision-makers weekly,
click now for
details.

As avonics manufacturerers are spinning out new ADS-B products by the week, they're also creating some new sub-niches. One of those is for a simple, compact Mode-C transponder since
some kind of transponder will be needed once the ADS-B mandate is in place. Sandia Aerospace recently added just such a product to its well-respected line of avionics fans, integration boxes, and
encoders. At the Aircraft Electronics Association show in Las Vegas, Sandia's Dennis Smith gave AVweb a video tour of the company's new STX 165 compact transponder.

Although they're not the centerpiece of Garmin's booth at the Aircraft Electronics Association show in Las Vegas this week, Garmin has made quite a ripple with its announcement of
seven new avionics products for the experimental and light sport markets. In this video, Garmin's Jim Alpiser explains why the company is so bullish on the experimental segment and why Garmin carved
out a segregated engineering team to develop uncertified avionics, with more products on the way.

Demand for ADS-B products continues to trickle upward, and everyone who is anyone in the avionics business is developing or already selling ADS-B gadgets. Aspen rolled out its first
products at the Aircraft Electronics Association show in Las Vegas, with an eye toward a range of solutions that rely on the company's innovative Connected Panel system, an in-cockpit wireless network
that links up with tablet computers. In this video from the show, Aspen's George Pariza gives AVweb a tour of the new products.

AVweb reader Ron Horton had a great experience there, as did several attending a recent event:

Flew into W03 (Wilson, NC) along with two other planes to give rides to a local church through the NC Baptist Men's Aviation wing. Gave rides to 90 passengers on a beautiful Saturday. Guilford
Mooring was running things at the FBO and was most gracious to accomodate our three airplanes and a host of first-time fliers ranging in age from 2 to 82. He kept everyone fueled, shared the
facilities, and welcomed the kids playing on the grass between the FBO and the fence next to the ramp. His hospitality left a very favorable impression on lots of locals who had never been to an
airport before. Based on conversations, there might be a few new pilots from that group to add to the GA roster someday!

AVwebFlash is a twice-weekly summary of the latest news, articles, products, features, and events featured on AVweb, the world's premier independent aviation news resource.

The AVwebFlash team is:

PublisherTom Bliss

Editorial Director, Aviation PublicationsPaul Bertorelli

Editor-in-ChiefRuss Niles

WebmasterScott Simmons

Contributing EditorsMary GradyGlenn Pew

ContributorsKevin Lane-Cummings

Ad CoordinatorKaren Lund

Avionics EditorLarry Anglisano

Have a product or service to advertise on AVweb? Your advertising can reach over 225,000 loyal AVwebFlash, AVwebBiz, and AVweb home page readers every
week. Over 80% of our readers are active pilots and aircraft owners. That's why our advertisers grow with us, year after year. For ad rates and scheduling, click here or contact Tom Bliss, via e-mail or via telephone [(480) 525-7481].

Click here to send a letter to the
editor. (Please let us know if your letter is not intended for publication.)

If you're having trouble reading this newsletter in its HTML-rich format (or if you'd prefer a lighter, simpler format for your phone or handheld device), there's also a text-only
version of AVwebFlash. For complete instructions on making the switch, click here.